Date: Thu, 11 Aug 1994 18:02:52 -0500

From: Daniel S Goodman dsg[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]MAROON.TC.UMN.EDU

Subject: Re: your male type cats



On Thu, 11 Aug 1994, Allen Maberry wrote:



I remember being taught (in Oregon 1950-60s) that cats were refered to

as "she" if their gender was uncertain. Ships and a few other things were

invariably "she", as was almost any vehicle in the stock phrase "She's a

real beauty".



Growing up in the '50's in Ulster County NY, I learned from my father that

tractors and other machinery were female -- unless they behaved very

badly, in which case they became male (as in "you son of a bitch.")



Note: In the original Star Trek, it was "Her mission: to go boldly...."

In Star Trek: The Next Generation (aka ST Jr), this becomes "Its mission...."



Dan Goodman dsg[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]maroon.tc.umn.edu